Tuesday, May 18, 2010

BRG Weekend

This weekend some of us BRG met up at Libby's new place in Stonington, CT, a small coastal village with water on three sides. The town looks like it comes right out of a children's novel with its sweet little manicured gardens, historic houses from the 1700's, and city center with an old church whose bell rings to mark every hour. Alvina will have better pictures (as is usually the case), but I got a couple on a walk by the water:

We ate gelato and sang happy birthday to Grace and wandered along crooked rock walls. A nice break from painting to say the least. Some topics discussed:

*If you could wish for any other author or illustrator or editor's career, whose would it be (that is who has a path you relate to and hope for)?

*What are the differences between a chapter book and a middle grade novel?

*Do most writers have just a small number of truly great books in them? Does it matter?

1 comment:

*I'm a big fan of Howard Pyle. He did great stuff, became super rich, and influenced a number of other amazing artists (Maxfield Parrish, NC Wyeth, et al). I wouldn't mind having his career. On the other hand, he lived and worked from the 1830's onward, way before the iPod was invented. I'd have a tough time getting by without my iPod.

*I don't know the answer to the second question. I would guess middle grade readers are a subset of chapter books kind of like squares are a subset of rectangles.

*I think an author (or any kind of artist for that matter) has only a few opportunities in their life when everything falls into place and they are operating at the height of their powers. Greatness, I think, is a relative term. In my opinion, everything Roald Dahl ever put to paper is great. Others might argue that he only really hit achieved greatness with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or James and the Giant Peach. It's a matter of perspective.

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